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Plans to remove housing benefit from anti-social neighbours are being considered by the Government. The penalties are intended to provide a swift and fair deterrent to tenants who make their neighbour's life a misery.
Local authorities and other bodies are being consulted on two options:
- a sanction triggered by court convictions for offences involving anti-social behaviour; or
- the local authority identifying and determining cases of bad behaviour and then applying the penalty.
The local authority Housing Benefit service would then reduce the amount of Housing Benefit payable.
The consultation asks whether the measures should be imposed uniformly across the country or at the discretion of individual local authorities.
The paper states that any penalties must:
- be capable of being applied quickly and decisively
- act as a deterrent
- be fair and seen to be fair
- be practical and usable, without excessive extra bureaucracy
- reduce, not increase social exclusion
- be compatible with Human Rights.
Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith said that state welfare should combine rights with responsibilities.
"The Government sympathises with those who question whether it is right for the State to support the housing costs of people whose behaviour brings misery to the lives of individuals and communities," he said.
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